Comment, Page 24
starting to get stronger and we saw evidence of that in the riots in Derry. I never say that Brexit has caused this because it didn’t, but it has certainly soured the atmosphere.
“One of the reasons why it has been difficult to get the Assembly to meet and the Executive up and running is the difficulty created by the fact that all the parties are looking over the shoulders (at the oncoming Brexit) wondering what will happen.
“The best thing we can do, as the British Government, the Irish Government and the EU, is to get power-sharing and the Good Friday Agreement working again so as to provide certainty around Brexit.
“There are other issues of course — Irish language, marriage equality — but I think that Brexit has poisoned the atmosphere in Northern Ireland.
“It gives a voice to extreme elements, both dissident republicans and unionist hardliners.”
Mr Varadkar spent last week visiting other European countries where he was engaged in soft Brexit campaigning in Croatia, Romania and Italy.
He added: “Coming away from the three meetings, in the three capitals, I got the impression that there is definitely a good understanding of Ireland’s concerns, of the unique issues in Northern Ireland given that it is a special place with a unique history and geography.
“People also understand very well the risk of a return to violence or of a step backwards in terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
“There is very strong support for the Barnier task force and there is no desire to end up in bilateral negotiations. Everyone agrees that we don’t want to be making 27 different deals with the UK,” the Taoiseach added.